System of lubrication for turbines.



No. 847,050. PATENTED MAR. 12, 19 0 '7.. W. L. R. EMMET.

SYSTEM OF LUBRIGATION FOR TURBINBS..'

APPLIOAIIQN FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

INJENTOR:

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, No.347,05o PATENTED'MAR.12,1907.

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SYSTEM OF LUBRIGATION FOR TURBINE-S;

Arrmonlon nun nuts 2:, 1903.

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UNITED srAgns PATENT oFFIoE.

WILLIAM L. It. EMMET, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEI/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM OF LUBRICATION FOR TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed June 22, 1903. Serial No. 162,524.

To all whom {it many concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. R. EM-

MET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Lubrication for Turbines or other Prime Movers, of which the following is a specification.

In prior applications of mine for United States patents I have disclosed a type of elastic-fiuid vertical turbines wherein the shaft is supported at its lower end by a step-bearing which is within the influence of the condenser and is held in alinement by suitable guide-bearings Placing the bearing within the turbine-base obviates the use of packingrings and also reduces to a minimum the op portunity for-air to leak into the condenser.

My invention has for its object to provide a system of lubrication for the step and guide bearings of a turbine by means of which the bearings are properly and continuously supplied with lubricant and the lubricant prevented from mingling with the steam or other elastic fluid acted upon by the condenser.

In carrying out my invention the revolving member of the turbine is supported by a step-bearing, and as many guide-bearings are provided as are necessary to maintain the proper alinement. A pump is provided which constantly supplies lubricant to the step-bearing under such a high pressure as will maintain a thin film between the adjacent surfaces. In other words, the shaft is supported by a fluid under pressure. The pump is capable of delivering the proper amount of lubricant at all times and under the necessary high pressure. The step-bearing is located within the condenser-chamber in the base of the turbine and is therefore subjected to the effect of the condenser.

In order to prevent the condenser from drawing oil out of the bearing, and thus causing it to mingle with the exhaust-steam, an equalizing-pipe of suitable size is connected between the collection-chamber of the hearing and the reservoir or chamber on the suction side of the high-pressure pump. Care should be exercised to see that this pipe is of sufficient size to maintain equal pressures in the two chambers, even though the pressures in the chambers are subjected to sudden variations.

Owing to the fact that the step-bearing and the pump-chamber are working in a vacuum, it is necessary to provide a means for positively filling the cylinder or cylinders of the high-pressure pump. In the present case a small auxiliary or filling pump is provided for each cylinder of the main pump and is submerged in the supply-chamber. I find it preferable to provide two high-pressure pumps for the step-bearing and a single low-pressure pump for the guide-bearings, although the number of pumps in either case can be varied.

To prevent the action known as hammering and also to equalize the pressures of the high-pressure pumps, an equalizing-chamber is provided which includes an elastic yielding medium that acts during the portion of the stroke when the pistons are practically idle to force lubricant to the bearing.

The turbine being of the vertical type with a generator mounted thereon, I arrange the low-pressure pump to supply the upper guidebearing, the intermediate guidebe aring being supplied by lubricant from said upper guide-bearing, reliance being placed upon the difference in level of the bearings to produce the necessary head.

For a fuller understanding of my invention attention is called to the description and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a turbine with a pump for supplying lubricant to the bearings, certain of the parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pump-casing and the drivingmotcr. Fig. 3 is an axial section of the pump. Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof on the low-pressure side of the pump, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the high-pres sure side of the pump.

1 represents the subbase of the turbine, on which is mounted a base 2, containing a con- (lcnser-chamliier. The chamber is provided with a flanged opening, to which the con denser 3 is attached. 'I he lower wall of the condenser-base 2 carries a step-bearing 4 of any approved construction. In the present instance the main shaft 5 rests on a chambered block 6, and the latter is sepa- I the steam, an equalizer-pipe 11 is provided.

This pipe also serves to prevent the lubricant from rising in the collection-chamber above a certain level. For convenience in illustration the pump is shown on the same level with the suobase of the turbine; but it is to "be understood that the pump in actual service is placed below the step-bearing. In addition to the step-bearing a guide-bearing 12 is proviied, which surrounds the main shaft at the lower end and prevents. lateral movement.

As the lubricant escapes from the chamber in the bearing-block 6 it passes upward between the shaft and the guide bearing, thence into the collection-chamber 9.

Situated above the condenser-base and mounted thereon is a turbinecasing 13,

made up in any suitable shape. In the present instance the turbine comprises a high and a low pressure stage. Situated above the turbine-casing and resting thereon is a stool 14, which carries a dynamo-electric machine 15, the latter being provided with a cover 16. Supported by the upper part of the structure are two guide-bearings 17 and 18. The former receives lubricant un der low pressure from the pump by means of the pipe 19. After the fluid has lubricated the upper bearing it flows downward into a collection-chamber 20, forming a part of the bearing, and from this point it is conveyed to the intermediate bearing 18 by a conduit 21 The bearing 17 being some little distance above the bearing 18, there is sufficient head to cause the fluid to lubricate the second bearing. After the fluid has thoroughly lubricated the second guide-bearing it is caught in a collection-chamber 22 and returned by the pipe 23 to the pump.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the construo tion of the pump will -be described. 30 represents the pump casing, and formed on the left-hand side thereof is a bracket 31, which supports the electric or other driving motor 32. The motor is connected to the driving-shaft of the pump by means of gearing 33, inclosed in a casing 34,'the latter being' bolted to a part of the pump-casing. The spur-gear, which is driven by the motorpinion, is mounted on a shaft 35, and the latter is supported in bearings carried by the detachable cover 36 of the pump-casing. On the inner end of the shaft 35 is carried a pinion which meshes with a spur-gear 37, the

latter being rigidly mounted upon the main shaft 38 of the pump. By reason of this arrangement the parts of the gearing can be readily separated by removing the bolts 'which secure the detachable cover 36 of the ing-wall or partition 39, while the other takes the form of a detachable flanged sleeve 40, which is bolted to the outside of the casing. The under side of the sleeve is provided with a flat surface, to which is bolted the low-pressure pump-cylinder 41. The piston for this pump is driven by a connecting-rod 42 from a crank-pin 43, Fig. 4, formed integrally with the driving-shaft The left-hand end of the driving-shaft is completely inclosed by the end of the flanged sleeve 40, which makes a tight fit with the casing to prevent lubricant from working out at this point. The other end of the shaft where it passes through the partition 39 is provided with a packing 44 of suitable construction. I

The arrangement of the valves for the lowpressure pump isbest shown in Fig. 4. The pump-cylinder 41 and its piston are completely submerged. 45 represents the suction-valve, and 46 the delivery-valve, of the pump. The latter is connected by means of the pipe 19 with the upper guide-bearing. After the oil or lubricant is passed through the bearings it is returned to the pump-chamber by the pipe 23. Situated outside of the casing and connected tothe low-pressure pump-chamber is a ga e 47, by means of which the level of the oi in the pump-chamber can be determined.

Referring now to the high-pressure pump which supplies lubricant to the step-b caring, in order to supply the necessary amount of lubricant two pumps 50'and 51 are provided. These pumps are similar in construction, so that a description of one of them will be sufli cient. Formed on the end of the main shaft 38 is a crank-pin 52, which is provided'with a suitable guide-block that is mounted in the cross-head 53. Rigidly attached to opposite sides of the cross-head are pistons 54, which reciprocate within the pump-cylinders 55.

Each pump is provided with a suction-valve 56 and a discharge-valve 57. The former is limited as to its upward movement by a projection carried by the detachable plate 58. By reason of this construction it is a simple matter when it is desired to change the lift on a valve to remove the plate and substitute either a new valve or a new plate with a different kind of projection. The plate being attached to the outside of the pump-cylinder renders it a simple matter to make this adjustment. The pumps discharge into an equalizing-chamber 59, and connected with this equalizing-chamber are one or more elastic yielding means or devices, which prevent hammering and also I assist in discharging fluid into the delivery-pipe 8 when the pumppistons are practically idle, owing to the position of the crank-pin 52. These elastic f ielding means absorb energy on the power stroke and give it back on the return stroke and are similar in construction. Hence a description of one of them will suffice. The casting containing the equalizingchamber 59 is extended upwardly to form a cylinder 60, and mounted therein is a piston 61 having a body which is cored out to enlarge the volume of the equalizing-chamh er. The upper end of the piston is provided with an enlarged head 62, with which engages the coiled co1npression-spring 63. The head and spring are inclosed by a tube 64, which is bolted to the upper side of the pump-casing. The end of the tube is closed in by a screw-threaded cap, which also forms an abutment for the compression-spring.

Owing to the fact that the high-pressure pump is working in a more or less perfect vacuum and also to the'fact that the pumps and collection-chamber in the hearing may be so located that there is only aslight diflerence in level, it is necessary to provide means for insuring the filling cf the cylinders on the suction-strokes cf the pistons. This is accomplished by means of auxiliary or filling pumps situated in the proper position with respect to the main pumps, usually below them. These pumps are driven by the cm sshead 53, which a so operates the main pumps. Situated below the main-pump cylinders and in line therewith are sma.l cylinders 65, each having an opening 66 formed in the side wall thereof, through which the liquid enters. M ounte d on the ends of the rod 67 are pistons 68, and as each piston moves it first draws in a certain amount of fluid and then discharges it into the pumpcylinder located on the opposite end. For example, the right-hand pump discharges into a pipe 69, which conveys the fluid to the left-hand side, thence through a chamber 7 0. (Shown in dotted lines.) From this point the fluid passes upwardly into the cylinder 55, at the same time raising the suction-valve 56 of the pump. The lefthand filling-pinup is arranged to discharge ing 77.

into the ipe 71, which in turn is employed to fill the c amber of the right-hand hi hpressure pump. The umps are normally sub merged in oil or ot er lubricant. The liquid is discharged by the pipe 8 to the step-bearing. represents the return-pipe, which opens into a passage 72. (Shown in dotted lines, Figs. 3 and 5.) This passage is partially formed in the main-pump casing and partly in the detachable casing 73. The detachable casing contains a chamber 74, in which is located a coil of pipe 75, through which water or other cooling medium flows for the purpose of reducing the temperature of the oil received from the step-bearing. The coil is composed of two parts, an inner and outer, which are connected in series. Suitable stufiin boxes are provided where the pipes extend through the casing to prevent the entrance of air or the exit of oil. Extending vertically within the chamber and adjacent to the high-pressure pumps is a partition 76, over which the oil from the cham-- ber 74 flows. By reason of this arrangement it will be seen that oil from the step-bearing flows by the passage 72 to the bottom of the chamber and is discharged through the open- From this point the heated oil rises and is gradually cooled by contact with the cooling-coil. In order to ascertain the level of the oil within the high-pressure chamber, a suitable gage 78 is provided.

Owing to the fact that the lubricant from the step-hearing is liable to have entrained with itmore or less water, it is necessary to provide a means for separating them. Such a means is found-in the settling-chamber 7 9, formed underneath the pump-chambers. This chamber communicates with the highpressure pum -chaml: er through a valveopening 80. Shown in dotted lines, Fi 5.)

; In the position shown the valve 81' is 0 used and communication between the two chamhers is cut oil. By rotating the valve back-' ward a short distance free communication will be established between the two chambers, and the water being the heavier will run into the chamber. this chamber of its contents, two screwthreaded plugs 82, Fig. 2, are rovided, and when it is desired to remove te contentsof this chamber, especially when the step-h earing is working in a vacuum, the valve 81 is closed and the contents of the chamber removed through one of the openings covered by the plugs 82, after which the plug is returned and the valve opened. nor the vacuum due to the condenser 3 is not impaired, because the cubical contents of the col ect-ion or drainage chamber 79 are negligible. When it becomes necessary to chamber, the cover-plate 83 is remove whlch covers an opening large enough to permit the insertion of a proper devlce for thoroughly cle an out the drainage or settling ICC In order to relieve In this manthoroughly cleaning the interior of the chaml IVhat I claim as new, and deslre to secure by Letters Patent ,of the United States, is

1. In combination, a prime mover, a vacuum-chamber therefor, a bearing located therein, a pump for supplying lubricant under pressure to the bearing, a means for equalizing the pressures of the fluid discharge by the bearing and that on the suction side of the pump, and a means assisting to fillthe cylinder of the pump on its suction-stroke.

2. A prime mover and a bearing therefor, in combination with pumps supplying lubricant to the bearing, an equaliz1ng-chamber for the um s an elastic ieldinw means con- J .y c:

nected with said chamber, and a means for positively feeding fluid to the cylinders of the pumps on their suction-strokes.

3. A prime mover and a bearing-therefor, in combination with pumps supplying lubricant to the bearing, an equalizing-chamber therefor, a means for positively feeding fluid to the cylinders of the pumps on their suction-strokes, andayielding medium loand bearing and acted upon by the flui delivered by thecated between the pum pumps.

4. A prime mover and a bearing therefor, in combination with a pump supplying lubricant to'the bearing, a means for positively supplying fluid to the pumpcylinder on its suction-stroke, and a yielding medium which is acted upon by the fluid delivered by the pump.

5. 'A prime mover. having .a vertical shaft,

a step-bearing for supporting the shaft comprising upper and lower blocks between which a film of lubricant is maintained, and guide-bearings for the shaft, in combination with a pump for supplying-lubricant under pressure to the bearings, a conduit extending from an upper to a lower guide bearing for supplying the latter with lubricant, and a conduit extending from the lower guidebearing to the said pump.

6. A prime mover comprising a vertical shaft, a step-bearing for supporting the shaft including upper and lower blocks, between which a film of lubricant is maintained, a guide-bearing, a chamber which surrounds the step and guide bearings and receives lu bricant exhausting therefrom, a pump which supplies lubricant to the step-bearmg and also to the guide-bearing, and a conduit which receives'lubricant from the chamber and returns it to the pump.

7. In combination, a turbine having a step-bearing, a chamber in which the bearing is located, a pump for supplying fluid under high pressure to the bearing, a supply-chamber therefor, a collection-chamber formed in the bearing, and a conduit for equalizing the fiuidpressures in the bearing and supply chambers. I

8. In combination, a turbine having a step-bearing, a chamber in which thebearing is located, a pump for supplying fluid under high pressure to the bearing, a supply-chamber therefor, a collection-chamber formed in the bearing, a conduit for equalizing the pressures in the bearing and supply chambers, and a means acting in combination with the piston for forcing fluid into the pumpcylinder during the suction-stroke.

9. In combination, a turbine having a step-bearing comprising upper and lower blocks between which afilm of lubricantis maintained, a guide-bearing'located above the step-bearing and in proximity thereto, a pump which supplies lubricant to the stepbearlng from which it, flows to the guidebearing, and a conduit which returns'the lubricant to the pump after it haspassed through both bearings.

10. In combination, a casing divided into compartments, a pump located in one c0m-' partment, a means for positively filling the pump-cylinderjonthe suction-stroke, a second pum located; in thesecondcompartment, an a driving shaft which extends into both compartments-and is common to the pumps.

connected to the first and second mentioned ceives the fluid to be pumped and permits it to overflow into the casing.

14. In combination, a pump, a casing in which the pump is submerged, a compartment formed in the casing, which receives carried thereby,

overflow into located in said the fluid to be pumped and permits it to the casing, and a cooling means 15. in combination, a pump, a casing which incloses it, a driving-shaft tor the pump located within t e casing, a gear mounted thereon, a detachable cover or the casing, a shaft and gearing.

16. In combination, a casing, wall therefor, pumps situated on opposite sides of the wall, a driving-shaft tor the pumps, which extends through a earmg tor one end of the sh a dividingfor imparting motion from the shaft to pumps, and means for rotating the shaft.

a casing, a pum mounted Within the casing, a drivingshaft, a shaft supported by the wall of t e casing, and means for supporting the pump-cylinder from the bearing.

n combination, a casing, a pump located within the casing, a driving-shaft also A bearings for the of the casing, a

gearing between the covershaft and motor, and gearing between the cover-shaft and driving-shaft, which is located between the pump and one he walls of the casing.

2 In combination, a pair of main pumps, a second pair o1 pumps for filling the cylinof oppositelyinders, and a conduit which conveys fluid om each of the filling-pumps to a main v pump.

compartment. i 11 the wall, and

on their suction-strokes, and an equalizingwhich the mam pumps cus- P mp a second pair of pumpstor forcing liquid into t e pressure of the chamber, a source of fluidpump within the casing, a sett mg-chamber onnected with the source of fluid-supply, nection between th chamber when the mosphere.

25. In combination, a pump, a chamber working under a vacuum into which the a supply-tank for the the chamber, the supply-tank, and closing the connection between the e source and the settlinglatter is opened to the atmover comprising a WILLIAM L. R. EMMET.

WVitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,

. M. FAIRFAX.

and a means for closing the conbearing for supporting the 

